TIRANA, Nov. 19 – The Central Election College has rejected the request of the main opposition Democratic Party to invalidate the mayoral election in the southeastern city of Korça over allegations of vote-buying.
There will be no repeat of the voting, CEC decided despite claims that the governing Socialist Party activists had paid students to vote, which is illegal under Albania’s electoral code.
The claims stem from hidden-camera footage shown in a private television station. It showed the activists in a Socialist Party office giving Lek 2,000 leks to students to go and vote in Korça.
Socialists officials said the money was to cover bus tickets because the students could not afford to return to their home city to vote.
The Democrats expressed dismay at the ruling. CEC had closed its to the open abuse of the system, said a Democratic Party representative.
CEC rejects opposition request to redo Korça election
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